Stitching machine



'M55' 2l, 1129' J. B. GURY, JR 1,714,021

STITCHING MACHINE Filed 0G15. 9, A.1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Z3 g-i- -9 5 lf1 .f3 4 I 60 5.9' 'l 57 P l I in a sa o E 7 g5 57 -115 j 32 77 l5 69 59i as* 35g lig 78 35 26 7.9 y z. Z. '5 8 Inventor.-

ffoZ/n. Gary, 05:,

22j.; my.

Mayzl, 1929. y 'J B URY,JR N 1,714,021

STITCHING MACHINE Filed oct'. 9, 19'26 s sheets-sheet 2 May 21, 1929.

J. B. GURY, JR

STITCHING MACHINE Filed Oct. 9, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet zu :wwwfunlvmvLQundnniiii!2.22-1-22!-22:21:22: .n.liiliiiiiiilliiiiiiliiii May21, 1929. J, B. GURY, 'JR 1,714,021

STITCHING MACHINE filed oct. 9, 192e` 6 sheets-sheet 4 I l V 75 7g 100l, 10i

h. 104 Y 66 65 3 af/ 7 4 77671 57 33 Invewr.- Jkvv'wrz; ywm

@zzn/22g,

' May' 21, 1929.`

J. B. GURY, JR

STITCHING MACHINE A Filed Oct. 9l 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 STITCHINGMACHINE Patented May 21, 19.29.

Y UNITED STATES JOHN'B. GURY, ,13,01* s'r. Louis, nissoimi.

PATENT i oFFicE;A

STITCHING MACHINE.

v Application tiled (Zlotoberl 9, 1926. Serial No. 140,623.

tern are cut from a pile of several layers ofv cloth. f

In the manufacture of garments in; quantity production, it is Customaryto lay upona table a pile of cloth consisting of several layers andmarking upon the topmost layer the outline of the pattern to be cut andthen cutting through tlie entire pile andsimultaneously producing amultiplicity of like pieces by using an kelectric or othery motor-drivencutting'machine that is manipula-ted by the operator to follow the linesof the pattern as marked on the topmost layer as above stated.

In order tov niark the several pieces forthe location of buttons,buttonholes and pockets, and for other indications',y itis quite acommon practice to stitchk through the pile of'cloth at the respectiveplaces to be Vmarked ywith a relativelyy long piece of rthread andleaving it either in a. single strand or looped double through theentire pile of cloth, and then,

after the respective places have been so of Figure 5; ,Y

Figure 9 is a top plan view of the presserstitched, the several layersofthe clothfare separated and a portion ofthe strand or loop of threadis severed on either side of the respective layers, so that each layerhas a fragm entV of the thread therethrough and extending on each sidethereof. which fragments are easily pulled out when no` longer required.l f

The present invention has for its principal object to produce a simple,practical and eilicient machine for stitching the clothv for the abovenoted purpose; to secure precision and positive action with ease ofoperation of the machine; to provide for the ready release of the loopcatching device of the machinel Without necessitating a manual operationof anv associated actuating *element of saidV device; and to attainvcertain advantages as will more fullv'appear in the followingdescription.

'The invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of themachine as a Whole and the parts and combinations and arrangements ofparts thereof. all as herein after described and afterwards pointed outwith particularity in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification andillustrating a practical adaptation of the inventiony Figurel is aside'elevation. of the machine vtion with'the parts in normal orunoperated posi- Figure 2 is a top plan view of the base-plate vof themachine, 4with the upper standard thereof being shown in cross sectionon the line 2-2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is an inverted plan view of the base-plate, showing theloop-,catcher and its` ated position;V v

Figure 4 is a view similar to that: shown cooperative/elements in normalor unoperin Figure l, the'oper'ating handlebeing depressed and theactuable parts ofthe ma-V Y chine being accordingly shown in operatedposition;

Figure 5 isr a view on an enlarged scale, partly in verticalsection andpartly in side elevation, showing the details of the reciprocatoryneedle-carrier and thearrangement lof thecooperating,presser-foot andits reciprocatory carrier and locking device therefor; .l

Figure '6 is a cross sectiontaken on the line 6 6 of Figure 5;y n

f Figure 7 isa cross section taken on or about ythe line 7 7 of Figure5;

Figure 8 is a cross section on the liney 8 8 ing on an enlarged scale,the details of the locking element for the carrier-bar of thepresser-foot; y

Figure 11is a fragmentarv view. on an en- Y larged scale and inlongitudinal section substanti ally'on the line 11-11 of Figure 2. and Vshowing the loop-catcher and its cooperating adjacent parts'in normal orunoperated position; e'

Figure 12 is an inverted plan viewof the parts as shown in Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a view similar to Figure 12` but showing the loop-catcherin its forward position at the completion'ofthe downward strokev of theoperating lever of the machine; Figure 14 is a view similar to Figures12 and 13. but showing' the loop-catcher in its forward position torelease the loop of the the operator;

' Figure 15 .is an inverted plan view of the rem. end portion. of thebasefplnteof the ima chine, showing the relative positions of theactuating and controlling elements for the loop-catcher when the latteris in its operated position as shown in Figure 13;

Figure 16 is a view similar to Figure 15, but showing the relativepositions of the p arts when the loop-catcher4 is in the position shownin Figure 14;

Figure 17 is a view similar to Figures 12,V 13 and 14, but showing amodiiication of the loop-catcher Figure 18 is a fragmentary detail view,on an enlarged scale and partly in section and partly in side elevation,showing a modification of the operating lever and cooperating parts ofthe machine, said parts being in their normal or unoperatedposition; and

Figure 19 is a similar view, the parts being shown in operated position.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the base-plateof the machine, which is made hollow and is open on its under side, andbeing stiil'ened by longitudinal and transverse ribs 2, 3, respectively,as more clearly shown in Figure 3 of the drawings.

Secured on the base-plate 1, as by screws 4, preferably inserted fromthe bottom` as shown more clearly in Figure 3, is a standard 5 extendingupwardly from the rear end portion of said base-plate and having aforwardly extending, substantially horizontal arm 6. At the forward endof said arm 6 is a head portion 7 having fiat top and bottom faces androunded end portion 8 (see Figure 8 of the drawings), said head portion7 having a bore 9 therethrough (see Figures 5 and 8).

Secured, as by screws 10, to the under side of said head portion 7,` isa plate 11 having a cylindrical upward extension 12 located axially insaid bore 9 and being of considerably smaller diameter t-han said bore;and lit-ted tightly over said cylindrical extension 12 is a tubularmember 13 which extends some distance above the head portion 7 andserves a guide for a second tubular member `14 that is sleeved on saidmember 13 so as 'to slide freely thereon, there being an annular .spacebetween the lower end portion of said tube 13 and the wall of the bore 9of suiiicient dimensions to receive the lower end portion of said tube14 when the latter is moved to its lowermost position during itsoperation as will be later described.

It is to be here understood, of course, that said tubular member 13 isfastened securely to `said cylindrical extension 12 of the plate 11 bypinning, welding, or other approved or practical methods, and by thesame process a. bushing 15 is secured within the upper end portion ofsaid tubular member 14. This bushing 15 is internally screw-threaded forthe reception of a screw-threaded plug 16, preferably having a lnurled,annular, outer collar portion 17 Vfor convenience in placing said plugin and removing it from said bushing 15. This structure is best shown inFigure 5.

Secured axially in said plug 16 is a needlecarrier comprising a bar 18in whose lower end portion is secured a needle 19. Normally, in theuppermost position of said bar 18, the lower end portion of the bar issupported and guided by a bushing 20 that is secured within the upperportion of said tubular 13. 1When said bar 18 is lowered, its

lower end portion passes through a second bushing 21 locatedapproximately midway between said bushing 2O and said cylindricalextension 12 of the plate 11, which latter is provided with an axialbore 22 of the same diameter as the bores of said bushings 29 and 21,all being such that said bar 18 will slide readily through them. l

In the raised position of the bar 18 the lower end portion of the needle19 projects a short distance below the bottom of said plate 11 andthrough a guide aperture 23 (see Figure 9) in an arm 24 of apresser-foot 25, which latter has an annular foot portion proper 26 thatis split, as at 27, with an opening sufficiently wide to permit thestitching thread to be passed therethrough, as will be later more fullydescribed inconnection with the operation of the machine. y

Sleeved on the tubular member 14 is a member comprising an annular lowerend por tion 28 and a split annular upper portion 29 that are connectedon opposite sides of said tube 14 by parallel longitudinal members 30,said longitudinal members 30 having dianietrically-disposed, transverseapertures 31 for the reception of trunnions 32 of an operating lever 33,to be presently more fully described. The split upper portion 29 isprovided with apertured ears 34, one of which is screw-threaded, andsaid portion 29 is clamped to the tube 14 by a screw 35 that is appliedso as to dra-w said ears 34 together. In this way the said member iscapable of adjustment on the tube 14, yet it may be readily secured inplace.

The portion 29 has a rearward extension 36 that is bifurcated as bygrooving it rectangularly (see Figure 6 of the drawings) so as toreceive, with a sliding t', a carrier-bar 37, of correspondinglyrectangular cross-section, which has the presser-foot 25 secured to itslower end portion, said bar 37 being retained in the bifurcated portion36 of said. member 29 by a plate 38 that is held in place by screws Y39.

llO

The bar 37 has a transverse stop-pin 40 38 and whose upper end portionis attached to an angular extension 43 of a rod 44 er:H

tending upward from vthe end of said bar 37 (see Figure 5 of thedrawings).

Coiled around the carrier-bar 37' is a spring 45 that is interposedbetween the extension 36 of the member 29farid the top vside of the headportion 7 of the standard arm 6 andk is always under compression so asto yieldably hold the tubular member`14` and the operating lever 33 innormal or raised position, acting to restore them to such position aftercach operation thereof, the presser-foot 25 coming in contact with theunder side of the plate 1.1 serving 'as a stop for limitingr the up#ward movement of said bar 37 and also that of the tube 14 owing to thearrangement of the stop-pin 40 that is engaged by said extension 36 ofthe member 29.l The presser-'foonas shown more clearly in Figures and 9,is

provided with a vertically grooved portion 46 to fit the bar 37 and isdetachably secured to said bar by a screw 47. y Y

The operating lever 33k has an open frame or yoke portion 48 surroundingsaid carrierbar and tubular member 14, and in the side members'of saidframeV or yoke portion are secured the above mentioned trunnions 32which, as shown, comprise' pins or studs that are inserted in apertures'provided therefor in said frame or yoke 'si de members, said pins orstuds being secured in place by sct screws 49, as shown in "F igure 7,At the Vouter end of said operating lever 33 is a handle portion 50 tobe grasped by the operator in manipulating the machine,` while the innerend portion of the lever is fulcrumed,

' as by a pivot stud or bolt `51, on a bracket extension 52 of the arm 6of the standard 5. 1n order to provide for'the straight up and downmovement of the trunnions- 32 in the yoke portion 48, the operatinglever 33 -is made telescopic between the aXis of said trunnions 32L andthe fulcrum 51, by having a tubular section 53 fitted and securedtightly on a stem extension 5421s bya cross-pin 5,5 or other suitablemeans, in which tubular section 53 is slidably fitted'a stem extension56. By this construction and arrangement -an easy up anddown'reciproca'tory movement of the tubular member 14 on the guide tube13 Vis accomplished by the operator depressing' the lever against' theaction of the spring 45 which returns the parts to normal position whenthe .lever is relieved of the down-v ward pressure by the operator.

needle 19 and the presser-foot 25 move downward simultaneously in theiriiormalrelation as shown in Figures 1 and 5, and'continue in suchrelation until the presser-foot comes in contact with the pile ofcloth,where upon the spring 41will`yield and'rpermit theA tubular member14 to continuel on and drivetlie needle through the ile of cloth,thereby carrying a loo of `t e` stitching thread through the pi eandthence th'roughan opening 57 in the base-plate 1, the point of theneedle reaching close kto the face of the worktable at the completion ofthe stroke. In this connection, it may be here stated -that thestitching threadmay betaken from any suitable source of supply, and thestrand,

of course, is threaded through an eye provided in the needle nearits'point, in-a manfner simi'lar'to any other sewing needle.

As Vshown in the drawings (see Figures 1 and 4) the stitching thread,indicated by the numeral 58, is supplied from a spool 59, as yindicatedby the dotted lines, which is rotatable on a rod or stem 60 projectingupward from the standard 5, said spool resting on a disk 61 at thecbaseoit' said rod or stem 60, and the thread being carried from the spoolthroughan eye 62 located above the ,latter and at the end oit a wirebracket member 63. From the eye 62 tliet-hread may be passedv throughanother eye 64 on the upper side ot' the arm 6 of the standard 5 nearthe vouter side of the base-plate 1 will now ,be` de scribed. j p v Onthe under side of the base-plate 1 is -a longitudinally slidable, fiatbar 65 which is `supported by two guide-plates 66, which latter aresecured in place by screws 67 (see Figures'3, 11to VV13,*and 15 to 17,inclusive). rIhis bar is normally held yieldably in ietract'ed'positioiiby a spring 68 which is secured at'one end to a stud 69 on said bai-fandat its oppositeend to a stud 7() on said 'baseplate 1.- 'Pivotallysecured on the forward rend portion'ot said bar 65 isthe catcherelement'71, which latter, in thergconstruction illustrated in Figures3,- and 11 to 14, inclusivefhas a stud '72 thereon, towhichis attachedone end o-ta spring 73 whose opposite end is attached' toa stud 74 onsaid bar 65. This spring 73 acts to yieldably hold lthe catcher element71 in its normal retracted position against'astoppin or stud 75 on thebase-plate l1, andv said catcher element 71.

lduring its respective actuatioiis, to be presently described, swingsabout its pivot 76,

n y I which latter, as shown, comprises a shoul- As the operating leveris depressedV the forth."

VGO

When the operating lever 33 is depressed by the operator, the tubularmember 14 moves downward therewith on the guide tube 13, during whichactuation the presser-foot 25 comes in contact with the topmost layer ofthe pile of cloth that is laid over the baseplate 1, while the needle 19continues on downward through the pile and at the termination of itsdown stroke the point of the needle is in very close proximity to thetop face of the work-table, as hereinabove first described.

Just before the point of the needle 19 enters the opening 57 in thebase-plate 1, the catcher' element 71 is moved forward and is brought torest substantially in the position shown in Figure 13 of the drawings.This is brought about by the actuation of mechanism interposed betweensaid slide-bar and the operating lever 38, now to be described.

This mechanism comprises a rocking lever 77 that is pivotally mounted onthe standard 5, as at 78 (see Figures 1 and 4), and is provided with asuitable spring-pressure device 79 to maintain some, although notexcessive, tightness inthe pivot, which will olfer some resistance butnot interfere with an easy operation of the machine. The lower endportion of t-his lever extends through a slot 80 (see Figures 2 and 15)in the base-plate 1 and normally abuts the rear end of said slide-bar 65near one corner thereof so that the adjacent side face of said lever 77and longitudinal edge portion of the bar are in substantially the sameplane, as best shown in Figures 3, 15 and 16 of the drawings.

Y Pivotally attached to the upper end portion of said lever 77, as at81, is a reciprocatory bar 82 whose forward end portion slides with bothan endwise and up and down movement under a guide-plate 88 which issecured to the side face of the arm G of the standard 5 by screws 84(see Figures 1, 4, 18 and 19). This reciprocatory bar 82 is yieldablyheld in normal forward position and with its forward end raised, asshown in Figures 1 and 18, by a spring 85 that has one end attached to astud 86 on said arm 6 and its opposite end attached to another stud 87on said barV 82. The forward position of the bar 82 is limited by aspring-stop member 88 on the standard 5 against which the lower endportion of the rocking lever 77 Anormally bears, said stop member 88also serving as a cushion when the bar 82 is snapped forward afteractuation as will be presently set forth more clearly.

The reciprocatory bar 82 has its upper edge portion notched by being cutaway on an in-V eline, as at 89, affording a shoulder 90, said shoulderbeing engaged by the end portion 91 of ak downward right angularextension 92 of said operating lever 33 (see Fi ures 1 and 4) or, asshown in Figures 18 19, by

an insert 91a at the end of said member 92 of the operating lever, inwhich latter modification a wear-plate ais secured on said bar 82coincident with the shoulder 90, both the insert 91at and the wear-plate90a being obviously made of hardened metal to resist wear due to thefrequent contact and rubbing action of the one part upon the other inthe operation of the machine. V-

Normally, the end Jortion 91 or 91a, as the case may be, ofthe ever arm92, sets some distance ahead of the shoulder 90 or wearplate 90a,respectively, of the bar 82; and the space between them isfsoproportioned that, upon the down stroke of the lever 83 and just beforethe needle 19 has entered the opening 57 in thebase-plate 1, the leverarm 92 will have engaged the bar 82 and moved the latter rearwardly,thereby rocking the lever 77, which latter in turn pushes the slide-bar65 forward, so that the catcher member 71 moves forward and at thecompletion of the down stroke of the operating lever it is insubstantially the position shown in Figure 18. This actuation of thecatcher shifting mechanism while the part 90 or 90a, as the case may be,isrstill engaged bythe part 91 or 91a, causes the catcher element 71 tomove a slight distance further than the position shown in Figure 18,and, as the part 91 or 91 rides in an arc of a circlefrom the axis ofthe operating lever, it is released in due time from engagement with thepart 90 or 90a, at which time the hooked end portion 98 of asupplemental extension 94 of the lever arm 92 has swung downward intoposition ahead of a stop member 95 on the reciprocatory bar 82, and theinstant said bar 82 is released from the lever arm 92 the spring 85which has been stretched during this operation reacts quickly and drawsthe bar 82 forward until said stop .member 95 engages said hooked endportion 98 of the supplemental extension arm 94 of the operating lever(see VFigure 4 of the dra-wings). In some cases, in order to relieve themechanism of shock, it may be preferably to provide, in lieu of therigid hook portion 98, a spring element 98a that is secured at its upperend portion to the angular projection 96. of said lever extension arm94, as at 97, said spring element 93 resting normally Hatwise againstsaid angular extension 98 with its free end portion projecting downwardso as to function like the above described hook portion 93. This springelement- 98ad is held against lateral displacement on said angularextension 96 by being provided with a longitudinal slot 98 through whichprojects a stud 99 from the angular extension, as more clearly shown inFigure 18. In connection with this modification, which is illustrated indetail in Figures 18and 19 of the drawings, the stop member 95 isprovided with an undercut notch 95, with which latter mrt-ien saidspring element 99* engages Q ki ligurellO 19) when the bar82 is snappedforward by said-spring 8,5 as the end portion 91a rides out ofengagement with the wearfplate -901%l In this action', should. the stop1nember95A strike the spring element 9'3with considerable force, thelatter will yield'so as to cushion theblow and it beinglsomewhatvstronger in tension than said spring 85 yreturns'to its normalposition against said angular. .extension lrocking lever 77.93 l. l

The catcher element 71 is bifurcated,k one-fv of its arms 100 Vbeingstraightand having.

boss or lug 101 ,at itsfend in which is secured'.`

a needle o r pointed-pin 102 constitutingthe thread hook. Theother arm103hasits outer `end portion 104 turned inward towards v.the

-Vopposite arm 100 at an angle to affordan oblique cani acelO and arestricted mouth 106 between the outer: ends of said arms 1.00 and103.j'1`he slide-bar -65 has a notched portion 107V which is engaged by.the `stud 72 on the catcher element r71 under the action .ofthe-spring' 73 at any time 'said catcher ele'- -inent is movedfforwardout of the effective f Yrangeot' tho stop-,pin or stud '7 5, so astogliflnit' shown inEigure 13;v f A the laterally v.swung Aposition 0fthe'catcher element, as Aings.

shown inlligure 13 of the draw- Aftjcr said stroke ofthe'operatingflevcr133 and while lit is moving'to the excessive distancebeyondV the theV .part Y9001200?, as thecase maybe, the needlel) movesthrough theopeningf inthe baseplate 1 and down between thegarms 100 fand 10?) of said catcher element 71, and rthe ,stop meniber 95 engagesthe hook 93 orspring element 932" and thereby positions the catcherelementin the relationtoithejlneedle was lvhenftheoperating lever 33:starts` .upward `stroke the needle 19,01? course, `movesupwardtherewith, and,q at the' same ti1ne,`the

catch-er yelt-nnent movesl rearwardly,y its cam .ygiiortion 105,. ridingacross -v the "needle and thciebyfswinging the arm 100of the .catcherelementL towards the. needle.

needle or'pinlOQpbyfthelaction of the A(.:atcherelement,71 has been',moved forward as abovedescribed by the ac-A tuation. of the `mechanismduring the down-l t y As they needleV 1 rises the loop oflthe stitchingrthreadthat has cam `portion 105 riding across the needle l19, 1s swunginto `position to engage the Vopened f loop ofthethread. rlfhe `reasonthat the loop opens., tothe side of theneedle towards the arm 100 of thecatcher eleinentr71 is that the arm 1030i said element being inclosencontact withl the oppositesideofthe needley the loopA V is'thereby prevented from opening towards said arm 103,;1This 'being thecase, just as soon as the hook 91 or the springelenient .91va isreleased from engage ment with thev stop member 95,-thejspring '85retracts thebar k82 andreturnsvthe rocking lever 77 tonor1nal.posit'ion,`.andatthe .saine Y' .time the spring 68 retracts theslide-bar 65 with a sudden n1ove1nent, during which-the `catcher element71 is `moved into substan! tially straight axial alinementvwithvrespectto they longitudinal axis` ofthe bar 65 owing to the action ofthe cam,portion 105 on Vthe Y needle before the latterhasrbeenraised'suficie'ntly to clear said catchereleinenuA and upon lthe'continuedvrearward'*,inovernent of the said Ybar V65 saidcatcherelement rides in contact wit-lithe studorestop pin 751 whichmaintains said alineinent'of the catcher ele,-V

vstitching thread looped'through the pile: of

cloth.

'nient withvthe bar,therebyjdrawing with it y The openingrot the loop ofstitching thread, Y

as; abovedescribed, isfurther facilitated by A the pressure oithe'presserefoot25'onthe pile i of clothv during the initial upwardstroke of the needle .19.,V and7 to maintain such pressure fon the `pileduring' the Afirst part oftlieupf position shown in Figure 13, justbefore :the 'y part 91 kor 91"* rides out of engagement withiva-rdirnovelnentoftl the needle sofa-s to insure `the opening4 of theloopzof thread, provision is made for locking thefbarv 37 thaty carriesLsaid v,presser-foot Q5 during the period in which the loop .is beineropened. This 41s ac lar guide I neinber 13 .with a series of com-l',paratively tine, though well deine'd,V substantiallyV-shapeiserrations 106; with :which 1a. correspondingly toothed detentor latch elefworlring in a transverse slideway in. the plate 11 whichsupports the tubular` guide inenjiber 13 (see Figures y5 and 10.1.0115the drawlngs),

ment cooperates shown,-the detent or" `latchelernent comprises aslidableg-blockrlOQ saidy block having serrati'ons` 110`y at itsendcontiguousto saidbarlsaid blocltbeling of Va-'length so that when itsytoothed-end portion is in. .interlocked-f..611g @gement with the'toothedportionofsaid har 37,; its oppo-V site end Vis ilushwith vthe-adjacent.aceiof the boire 22 in the cylindricalextension12pt rvsaid I plate 11,1so .that ltli'e needle-carrying bar k18 f cans'lide freely throughsaidbore/.22,` and' during the time that said bar 37 is sliding through thebore said block is held in locking engagement with the bar 37 and thelatter is bore 22 of the` cylindrical extension of said plate 11 so astov abut the adjacent end of said block 109, the block is freely movableendwise and the needle-bar 18 is readily movable up and down as itsteeth108 will ride out of engagement with those 110 of said block 109,

which latter member is then moved enldwise away from said bar 37 and itsend portion is accordingly projected into the bore 22, as shown inFigures 5 and 10. This position of the block 109, of course, is limitedby the slot-and-pin arrangement'between the block and theplate 11, and,therefore, in order to afford ample clearance of the lower end portionof the needle-bar 18, the latter is cutaway on the side thereof towardssaid block 109, as at 113, said cutaway portion having its face eithertapered directly from the end of the needle-bar, or, preferably, asshown in Figures 4 and 5, extending for a short distance from `the endstraight and substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of thebar i and then gradually turning outward to the normal peripheral faceof the bar, thereby forming a cam portion 114.

By the above noted construction and arrangement, the .presser-foot 25travels downward ,simultaneously with the needle 19, as hereinabovedescribed, inv substantially the same relation as shown in Figures 1 and5, and until said presser-foot has been arrested by coming in contactwith the pile of cloth and it' has compressed that'portion of the pilethereunder to a considerable extent` by the power of the spring 41,which latter yields and permits the needle to continue on through thepile of cloth. As soon as the cam portion 114 of the needle-bar 18reaches the projecting end portion of the detent block 109 it actsthereagainst to move said blo'clrtowards the carrier-bar 37 ofthepresser-foot, and as the teeth 108 of the latter are engagedby `those110of the block, the presser-foot is securely held in its contactingposition with the pile of cloth during the completion of the down strokeofthe needleand also duringthe return upward Vstroke of the needle untilsuch time as the cutaway portion 118 cornes opposite the block 109,after which' the spring 41 is free to function in restoring thecarrier-bar 37 to its normal position relative to the needle 19 and itscarrierparts during the balance of the i up stroke. Thisobviouslyprevents the lifting of the presser-foot, in any case, no matter howthick the pile of cloth, until thevneedle has moved upwardly initially adistance to eiii'ect the opening of the loop of the stitching threadwith Vsui'licient positiveness to insure it always being caught by thecatcher element 71 upon eacli-actuation'of the machine. Vithout presentinvention, as far as the 'inventor is aware, the release of the catcherelement from the loop of the stitching thread, after the completion ofthe stitch, is brought about ln this machine provision may be made forthe manual release of the catcher element `from the loop of stitchingthread and for restoring the mechanismV to normal condition, and,accordingly, for this purpose, the reciprocatorybar 82 is provided atits forward endwith a laterally projecting angular ex-` tension or ear115 in cooperative relation Vto another like extension or ear 116 on theguideplate 83 (seeFigures 1,4, 18 and 19 of the drawings) which may begrasped'between the thumb and forefinger of the operator so as tothereby press the ear 115 towards the ear 116 and in that way move thebar 82 rearwardly. and, of course, rock the lever 77 which inturnactuates the slide-bar 65 and moves the catcher element 71 forward to aposition out of effective range of the stop rpinor stud 7 5, wherebysaid catcher element is swung, by theaction ofthe spring 73, laterally,as shown in Figures 13 and 14, and

In other machines of the character of the conveniently lll) whereby thecatcher-needle or pin 102Y is withdrawn fromengagement with the loop ofthe stitching thread automatically diuring parts, or, in case the threaddoes not become -this last above describedactuation of theV sodisengaged by the needle or pin 102, it is l readily pulled therefrom bythe'operator if he keeps the two ears 115, 116, pressed together asabove described,`and with his other hand y pulls upon the loopedthread'fromV above the `base-plate 1. In either case, the disengagedloop is withdrawn through the opening 57,V

by the operator. Y f

Provision` however, is preferably made for a substantially automaticrelease of the thread from the catcher element afterieach operation I tof making a stitch.A For this purpose, a latch element117 is pivoted, asat 118, on Ythe under side ofthe base-pl ate lalongsideyof the lower endportionof the rocking: lever 77 'and rear end portion lof theslide-bar65 (se'efFigures 3, and 16 of the drawings). This latch element isnormally lpressed `yieldabl'y to'- wards said; rocking lever 77` andslide-bar 65 by a spring 119 which is secured -tightlyat one end bythescrew 67 that fastens-the rear guide-platef in place, while its free endportion` bears against an angular end extension 120 of the latchelement. At the vsidey of the latch velement towards said rocking lever77 and slide-bar 65 is a lateral projection121 af? fording asubstantially square forward'shoulder 122,'and having a compoundcurvedrear portion 123 affording a cam surface.

Normally, in retracted position of the slidebar 65, the lateralprojection 121of the latchv element117 bears against the edge of saidslidevbar near the 'rear lendfthereof, and asthe sidel face of the`1'ocki`ri"g"lever 77 is `locate'd'praw tically flush with thecorresponding edge of the slide-bar 65, any joint forward and back- Y,ward movement ofsaid rocking lever and slide-barl in their cooperativeactuation 4will .not `p ermit any locking 'engagement Vof the latchmember behind the end thel slide-bar. Thaty is'fwhen the rocking lever77 pushes the slide-bar fforward, Las shown in Figure 15,

so as to bring the catcherfelen'ient 71 to the `-po sitionshownfinFigure 13,l the lateral projection 121 of Athe latch'element1,1"17 is 'in slidable engagement'with the face lof saidrocking lever,and vupothe returnofv said rocking lever to-normal position and 1t beingfollowed by the .slide-bar yunder the action of the spring 68, theslide-bar rides by said lateral projection 121- of the latch elementwithout any interference thereby. However, if saidA slidebar 65'is movedforward independently of said rocking lever, as shown in Figure 16,thenthe lateral projection-121 of said latch element 117 snaps behindthe endof the 'slide-bar and prevents the return of the latter to normalpositionv until released from such engagement. In this position oftheslide-bar '65 the catcher element 7 1 is inl thefposition shown inFigure 14 of the drawings, inwhich ,position of the catcher' elementtheneedle or pin 102is withdrawn from the loop ofthe stitching thread.

Therefore, it is'obvious thatj if the loop ofthe thread, while stillengaged by lthe catcher element 71- and the latter isinits retractedposition as shown in Figures and 12, is pulled drawn forward with 'thecatcherelement 71 in a position slightly ahead offthat shown in Figure14 of the dra-wings,or, in other words,

Y with the needle -or'pin 102V just about inregislofthe spring thecatcherelementis subsaid slide-bar is just a short distance'ahead oflthe lateral projection 121 of the latchelement 117, so that the latteris free to move behind the slide-bar and thereby stop the latter frommoving back tojnormal position whenthe operator lets go of the thread or'permits it to becom'eislack between his hand and the catcher-needle or"pin 102. Therefore, when the operatordoes Vrelease his hold onthethread or.

permits it to becomeV slack asabove set forth, the needle vor'piri102'is released from engagement .with the loop of thread as thespring 78 *swin s the cateher'element 71 to the angular position shownv inFigure 14 of the drawings,

A From the above it is clearly apparent that and,obvi'ously, the loopedthread is then freeh lto be withdrawn out through the opening 57. K z

a substantially automaticrelease ofthe thread v from thev catcherelement is readily Vaccomplished the operator merely pulling' upon thelooped thread after the stitch is completed,

then easing up and .slackening the thread,V

vafter wh-iclithe loop is withdrawable at will.r j

.In this connection,` it may be here stated Y. l l that, withthefpartsstill in the position shown jinFigures 14 and 16, after thethread has been withdrawn las above described the vmachine can beoperated to make the next succeeding stitch without restoring thepartsto their normalacondition .as shown in Figures 3,11 and '12,because, when the rocking lever 77 is actuated upon the 'depression ofthe'operating ,lever"`33, `as firstabovev described, vits'lower endportion, during the forward movement" y"thereof, first engagesthe camportion 123 Iof `the'lateral projection 121 of the latch element I 117thereby swinging the latter so as to move ,the shoulder 122 from behindthe Slide-,baly 65, and the continued forward movement of t'he rockinglever 77 inl engagement with said slide-bar 65 moves the latter forwardyas first leased frompthe catcher element 71 bythe f Y Y above describedin the operation of making l :the stitch.

manual operation effected lby vthe'operator pressing the ear'115 of thereciprocatory bar 82 towards the earl 116 `of the guide-'plate 83,

orthrou'ghv the processvof'pullingthe lsli'de- .bar 65 forwardby theloopfof thread-when f Vthe latter is hooked onthe catcher-needlefor pinA102as above described, the release of the" by the operator,ftheslide-bar. will vbe `thereby loop' of thread fromj said needle or pin102, may also vbe readily and conveniently accomcarry thecatcher element71 forward` asin,`

making the stitch, such operation ofthe op-j erating lever, of course,being made after the completion of the preceding stitching operation andafter the cloth has heenreinoved from under the needle 19, which removalis readily accomplished by the opera-l tor pulling the pile and duringwhich the looped strands of tliefthread slide through the pile. In thisoperation the operator can conveniently hold the cloth lwith ,one hand iV,while he manipulates the operating lever 33 with his other hand. Y r

From the foregoing it is clearly `apparent that the machine possessesall the advantages of those having only provision for the manual releaseof the thread loop from the` catcher element, with the further advantageof an automatic release thereof. j

lVhilefthe structure and arrangement of the catcher element 71, ashereinabovedef scribed, serves its purpose quite well in general, it maybe desirableV in some cases, and possibly in all,.to modify itsconstruction and arrangement somewhat. A practical modification,therefore, is illustrated. vin Figure 17 of the drawings, in which, inlieu of the stoppin 72 and the cooperating notched portion 107 of theslide-bar 65, the catcher element 71 is provided with lan arm y124extending rearwardly in line withthe arm 100 thereof and parallelinf"the edge ofthe slide-bai' 65, said arm having a substantially rightangular projection 125 at its end and beingspaced from the slide-barwhen the arm 100 of the catcher element is in cooperative engagementwith the stopfpin or stud in the normal rei tracted` position of saidcatcher element, as

shown in full lines in Figure 17. In this modificationthe arm 103 of thecatcher element has itsonter end portion straight andsubstantiallyparallel with the arm 100, as at 126, the cam portion 105being located ap.- proximately midway betweenthis end portion 126 andthe base portion of the arm.:

The inner edgeport-ions, of the cam 105 and the end 126 of the arm areflanged, as at 127 so as to afford a wider bearing face to 7 b rideacross the needle 19 and thereby further insure that the looprof thestitching thread will not open at that side of the needle.

In lieu of the helical spring 73,013 the first .above describedstiiucture, an arcuately bent i wire spring 123 is provided 1n thismodification, said spring 128 being obviously secured tightly to theouter end portion ofthe flange 127, byarcuating the end portion of thespring and squeezing it in a slit or groove vfprovided therefor in saidflange, as at 129,

j the opposite `end portion of the spring being hooked in an apertureprovided therefor Ain the slide-bar65,as at 130. j j i f lfhe respectivepositions of the catcherfelement just above described, correspondingtoitsactuations in the operation of the Amachine as illustrated in Figures13 and 111 of the drawings, are indicated by ythe dotted lines in Figure17. 4

At this point it maybe stated that the opening in the ring portion 26 ofthe presser-foot 25,:aiforded by lthe slot 27, as shown in Figure9 ofthedrawings is to permit the withdrawal :of the looped strands ofthestitching threa'dfrom the ring readily and conveniently after thecompletion of the vstitch and in order to facilitate the severing of thethread on a cuttingdevice to be presently described.

Thisopening 27 also facilitates placing the .end portion. of the threaddrawn through theeye oftheneedle 19 by the operator prior toy makingastitch, over the top side of the ring, which would otherwise beldillicult to do if thel ring gwere continuous and not split as shown,because the length of thread entend-V ing 'from theeye of the'needle,after severance of the thread following the'completion of4 the precedingstitch, would be hanging down through the ring and it would be quit-etroublesome to bring it back up through the ring to be lai d over thetop side thereof is desirable and, in fact, practicallyV necessary inthe proper operation Vof the machine.

`As shown in Figures 3, 15 and 16 of the drawings, a stop member 131,similar to the stop member 8 8 for the rocking lever 77 is located inabutting 'relation to jthe rear end `ofthe slide-bar 65 inthe normalretracted positionof the latter, said stopmember 131 posse -'sii'ig acertain inherent resiliency so as to serve as a cushion whentheslide-'bar 65 forcibly retracted by` the 'spring 68, and

' said stop member 131, by its relative location,

relieves the rocking lever 77 of considerable shock as the latter isthereby guarded from being struck directly byl said slide-bar 65 shouldthe latter be snapped back to normal position at any time while saidrocking lever is in its own normal position.

These two stop members SSand 131 may be ofany desirable form, but, asshown more vclearly in Figure 2 of the`drawiiigs, they the head'portion7 of the arm 6 ofthe standard 5, asbyscrews 133 (see Figure), saidbracket member projecting beyond the end of said headportion7 and havingits ripper and lower-margins notched, as at 134-, with i upper and lowerprojeetions135` adjacent to saidnotches and over which projectionsV thethread'to be cut is hooked. Q

VCooperating with said bracket member 132 is a supplemental plate 136corresponding in marginal out-line and shape therewith, and

between the two members132 and 136 an orizo dinany relatively t-liinsafety razorblade 137 is clamped by a knurled:thumb-screwor othersuitable fastener 138,;` saidf razor blade; at' fordingn euttingedgescoincident with the l, notches :v 134E vso that ther thread may beappliedv eitherto the-top orund'erxsideof the s the annularlysvgroovedfmiddlefportienr 139 the reo ior,` obviously,- said `thumb-screwmay have-a transverse aperture 140 therethrough. andithrough which thethreadlmay be-passed from saidguide lttosthe eye yof they needle.`

In order.k tofaford suicientheadroonifor the operation of opening theloop f* ofy `the stitching thread and toffacilitate-the funcsubstitutedfor' the construction and arrangetlie. catcher4 mechanism `under thevtionina/toj.Y

base-p 1, thelatteris preferably provided with. a reetangularfopening1411 as shown in Figlilires-, 11 17014, inclusive, and'Figure 17 oft edravviiigs,.over whielropeningr is placed' a supplementall cover-plate142k (see Figures 1', 2, 4`,-'and"11-).. The hereinabove mentionedaperture 57 is located inthis .cover-plate 142 andit. is preferablyprovided with avbushing 143 whose flange portionis neatly rounded so asto, guidethepoint ofv the needle 19 into the. aperture 57. should, theneedlel become sprung slightly out of' its normal straight alinement..This cover-plate 142 is preferV ably secured in'` place by screwslll;kinserted. from:v the under side kof the base-plate 1 as showninFigure'ofrthedrawings* y y 4 Obviously,.instead of merely cuttngaway orreducing; the, lower end: portion of the needle-'carrying barl 18 at oneside only,to produce thecamportion114 which cooperates with t the.datent.Y 1.09 as shown in Figures 4 and 5; off the'y dr ayaings,saidbar18- may be rediieedA inl diameter all around in the same reg ion,.therebyy makingr the cam portion` 114 annular. In this Way noparticular eareneed be exercised in setting theneedlefcarrying bar.inpositionasis required when litis cutaway or reduced" fromone sideonly. It is further obvious thatmany other changesin the. enefralconstruction and arrangement?.

as we as nthedetails oftheseveral parte oit thefmachine individuallmaybemade and mentherein shovvnand` described., vWi tlioiit{i'n;

' the Leastdparting from the spirit and'scope cooperatingtaaet'iiatesaidpresserffoot, `anC JUQnSr-Qtloud bti-'@1102 ineedlercarrierp vfor uof the( invention as defined, byf the appendedr jneedleav Y e i 2.` In astitching machine, aspringfpressed' locking; said: presserfffoot: incompressing-relationfto the vtopV of it pile ofqcloth being;

stitched` duringfthefdeseent of the needle` throughthe cloth; and'during the initial partv oii-` the returnl upwardA movement of thevertically reciproeable earrier-barnhaving ai presser-foot at thelowerend' thereof, a coA operating-,vertcally reciproeable-carrier-ba-rhaving aI Sewing needlev at its, lower endi in alinenient,therewith,andai detent Working; f

transversely between Said; two ymentioned carrier-bars, y'said' detenthaving previsioni tor an, interlocking engagement Withv the! car-irior-bar for thepresser-foot. but beingy nor# mally releasable fromvsuch engagement-and permittingreciprocation1 of` saidf carrier-bar,` Y

and being-- slidably engageableibyy Said ca11t-` rior-bar for thesewing` needlev after .the... presserfoothascome in, compressin rela-tioniu'ponfthe goods being.- stitched. W 'iereby to lockvsaid'.carrier-1bar, for the'preSserffoot duringajeontinuedv downwardmovementf ofr the carrier! bai-i;` foi; the needle and; during the ofthe latter.

linitial part-of` the return, upward movement '8'. Inl7 a, stitchingmachine, aveltticallyfree Y ciprocable oar'rierfbfar having apresser-'foot at the lower end thereof., saidbar being pro; vided withai; series: olrserrations extending, transversely, of thelower endportion thereof,` a cooperating vertically reciprocablevcarrierbarhavinga sewinglneedle at its` lower end,

and a detent slidably-mountedbetween said, twormentioned carrier-.bars,said. datent beingV provided` with serrationsxat its end adjacent tosaidcarrier-bar for the presser-,foot Where'-i by toV engage theSerrations` ot said, carrier; bar,V but saidi detentfbeing. freelymovable.

out ot engagement,witlizvsaid'Carrierebar vdiiring .a normalvsimultaneoustdownward movement `of said twomentioned carriembars untilythe presser-footihascome .intoeompressing relation` upon the goods.beingy stitchedkk but. being. movedfinto, interlocking engagement withsaid earrier-bar ,foi-therpresser-oot by, a slidirae;` engagement ofsaid detent by said carrier-bar .forthe needlefduring a1 continueddownward movementof vsaid last,mentioned carrier-bar` and4 during theinitialr part of thereturn upwardmovement thereof;

4. In a stitching` machine, a' base-plate,y a e standardon saidbase-plate, said standard'.I havingafn army overliangin-g said4base-plate, a tubular guide member extending upward.

fromLthe outer lend yportionl ofv said arm,y a-

second tubular` member fitted to reciprocate slidably on said tubular'-guide member, a' carrier-bar secured atlits. upper.; vend portionaxially in said:- reciprocatory tubularnmember;

ya sewin;gfneedlefseeured tothe-lower'end portion-offsavidijca-rrier-bar, and extending lairf `iallytherefrom, meansforfguidfin said eary rior-bar through said tubular gni fe melillfr,

Cil

Yee

a second carrier-bar paralleling said firstl mentioned carrier-bar incooperative relation thereto and being reciprocable through a guideopening in said arm of the standard,

lateral extension on said reciprocatory tubularmember and having a guideopening therein through which said second mentioned carrier-bar isslldable, aw presser-'foot on the lower end portion of said second men-"tioned carrier-bar, a spring coiled about said second mentionedcarrier-bar between said arm oi the standard and the under side oiloperative relationto the upper side of saidV lateral extension to limitsaid normal raised position of the latter, a spring eo-acting withsecond mentioned carrierebar and said lateral extension to yieldablyhold the stop on said second mentioned carrier-bar in engagement withsaid lateral extension, and au actuating lhandle-lewr having anVoperable `connection with said reciprocatory tubular member.

5. In a stitching machine, a vertically reciprocable needle-carrier, alateral bracket extension thereon having 'an opening therethrough,cooperating presser-foot-carrier reeiprocable parallel with saidneedle-carrier and .being guided slidably through said opening in saidlateral bracket extension thereof, a spring acting upon said lateralbracket eX- tension whereby to yieldably hold said needle-carrier innormal raised'position, a stop on said presser-oot-carrier incooperative relation to the lateral extension of said needle-carrier,and a spring co-acting withV 'locking the presser-foot-carrier after thepresser-foot has come in compressing relation upon the cloth beingVstitched and for holding the presser-foot in such relation during-` thecompletion ofA the stitch-forming stroke of the needle andlduringthe-initial part of the receding movement of the needle.

7; In va stitching machine, a base-plate, a- `standard thereon, saidstandard having 'an armk overhanging said base-plate, a needlecarrierand a p1esseitoot-ca1i,ier reciprocable on said standard arm incooperative relation to said base-plate, a sewingn'eedle extendingl fromthe end of said needle-carrier in alinement therewith and being adaptedto carry a loop of thread through goodsbeing stitched, said base-platehaving an aperture therein for the recept-ion of said needle` aloop-catcher "mounted on the underside of saidbase-platef said throatand the base portion of the element, a springretracted reciprocatory barto which said bifurcated element is pivotally attached, a rocking leveron saidstandard, the

lower endportion thereof extendingthrough a. longitudinal slot in saidbase-plate and abutting the end of saidreciprocatory bar, and the upperend portion thereof being pivotally connected to a longitudinallyreciprocable bar on said arm of the standard, a spring for nor# `mallyholding said last mentioned Vbar in forwardly retracted position, saidbar hav-QA related stop shoulder intermediate said actu- Ving anactuating shoulder thereonjand a corating shoulder and the forward endportion of the bar, and a bell-crank operating lever mounted on Said armof the standard, one arm of saidlever being engageable with saidactuating shoulder of said last mentioned, reclpro cable bar and havinga hooked extension to engage said stop shoulder on saidbar, and theotherarm of said lever being cooperatively attached to said needle-carrierand presser-footcarrier whereby to effect a cooperative actu-v ation or"said two carriers, said mechanism being relatively proportioned andtimed so that, upon the depression of the operating lever, thecatcher-element moves forward :and swings laterally so as to straddlesaidV needle-` receiving aperture in said base-plate with the cam-arm ofsaid catcher-element contiguous to the path of t-he needle and prior tothe passage o the needle intoV sai-d aperture, the needle- `carrier andpresseioot-carrier being socorrelated and yieldably connected that theymove simultaneously towards saidbase-plate until the presser-foot comesin compressing relation uponthe goods being stitched, whereupon theneedle continues through the goods andfinto said aperture in thebase-plate in cooperative relation to said catcher-element, f

and upon the release of power of said operating lever, thecatcher-elements cam portion. rides across the ascending needle andthereby effects the engagement of thehook member `of said element withthe loop of stitching thread as the latter opens. a

8. In a stitching machine, a loop-catcher mechanism, comprising areciprocatory actuatorbar yieldablyrheld inV retracted normal position,a second reciprocatory actuator-,barv also yieldably held in retractednormal position, a catcher element on said second mentionedactuator bar,a rocking' lever operably connected to said first mentioned actuator-barand having an abutting actuating relation to lill) said second mentionedactuator-bar;V a lever device for operating saidv firstmentionedae-ytuator-bar from'vnormal retracted position and saidbar being alsodirectlyactuable indie-V pendently ofsaidleverdevice tjofa'ct'uate said,Y rocking lever aiidin turn operate said second; -mentionedactuator-bar froinfits'-'noifmal posi-1 lion, and ya latchseleinentcorrelated tosaid rockinglevei' and'saidsecondlmentioned actuatorbarwhereby saidjbar may be'directly op'- erated from itsnormalpositioii'andv heldfrom complete returii to such position until asubsequent actuationlf'offsaid rocking lever releases saidlatch-element.

catcher-element pivotally mounted on the forward end of said `bar so asto swing laterally thereof, one arm of said-element having an inwardlyprojecting hook member, and the other arm thereof being turned towardVsaid first mentioned arm to afford a restricted' throat between the endportions of the arms i and a cam portion intermediate the end and baseportions of said second mentioned arm, and a sewing needle reciprocableat substantially right angles to the path of movement of ing movedforward and swung laterally to a position where its cam portion iscontiguous to the path of the sewing needle, the needle being next movedinto cooperative relation between the arms of the catcher-element, andthe catcher-element being next retracted 'and withdrawn from the needlewhile the latter is still in cooperative engaging relation with thecam-arm of the catcher-element and during the initial part of thereceding movement of the needle, whereby the stitching thread loop isopened towards the hook member of the catcher-element and is caught bythe latter.

10. In a stitching machine', `a loop-catcher comprising a reeiprocatoryvbar yieldably held in retracted normal position,a bifurcatedcatcher-element pivotally'mounted on the forward end ofsaid bar so astofswing laterally thereof, one arm of said element having an inwardlyprojecting hookfmember, and the other arm thereof being `turned toward'said first mentioned arm to afford a restricted throat between the endportions of the arms and a cam portionintermediate the end and baseportions of said second mentioned arm, a sewing needle reciprocable atsubstantially right angles to the path of movement of saidcatcher-element, said catcher-element be-` ing movable forward andswun-g laterally to a position where its cam portion is contiguous tothe pathof the sewing needle, manually operable meansfor effectingacorrelated actuation of said reciprocatory bar and said sewing needlewhereby said catcher-element is placed in said described` jforwardposition prior tosthe-positioninglof the sewing;needle,`

said means having provision for thevrelease of said,reciprocatorybarafter the sewing needle'lias lbeenl moved vto cooperative eng'ag:`

towards the hoolemembei' ci? the catcherf element and" is' caught' bythelatt'ei',:iiieaiis for actuatinglsaid recipi'ocatory bar? :manually andindependentlyot said sewingneedlel to move saidcatclier-element to itsforward posi-l tion as iirst above described, said reciprocatory barbeing also movable to, bring said catcheieleinent to said describedforward position by pulling the engaged thread-loop, and a latch-elementengageable witlifs'aidre'- ciproca'tory bar in the forwardposition-therei of when actuatedas last above. described, saidlatch-element being released from such en-v gagement by the subsequentoperation ofy either otfsaid two above mentioned manualV vactuations ofsaid reciprocatoi'y'bar.

1yieldably held in Yretracted normal position, said catcher-element,said catcher-element bea catcher-element on said reciprocatory bar,

means for manually actuating said bar forwardly to move saidcatcher-element into position to 'engage the thread-loop, said bar ybeing also actuatable by pulling the engaged thread-loop, and alatch-element engageable vwithV said bar when actuated as last describedneedle ,adapted to takeva loop of thread through the'goods. to bestitched, a loopcatcher `cooperating with saidvneedle to en gage andhold the thread-loop during the re? ceding'stroke of the needle, meansfor manually7 actuating sfaidnneedle and loop-catcher in correlation toeach other to effect the en-y gagemeiitiof the vthread-loop by -theloopcatcher, said vmeans being ysubsequently op- Terable to effect therelease oi2 the loop-'catcher from the thread-loop after' removal of thegoods being stitched roin'the machine, a part of said manually operable'means being" actuable to move .the loop-catcher independentlyof` theneedle to effect kthe release of the thread-loop, and said loop-catcherbeing operable to effect such release by pulling y the engagedthread-loop, and a latch-element engageable with said'loop-cat-cliei; tohold itin releasing position when 'actuated as last described, saidlatch-element being released i'omengagement with saifdloop-catcher'by`ai subsequent operation. of said manually operative means by either ofthe tWo described processes. a

13. In a machine of the character described, means for carrying a loopof thread through goods, and means for catchingV the loop after it ispassed through the goods, said loopcatching means including a yieldablyheld retractive element to engage and hold the loop and being aotuableto disengage the loop by first pulling and subsequently releasing thelooped thread. a

, 14. In a machine ofthe character described,

means for carrying a loop of thread through goods, and means forcatching the loop after 1| it is passed through the goods, said-loopcatching means including a yieldably held retractive element to engageand hold the loop, a manually operable mechanical device for actuatingsaid element to disengage the loop, said element being also directlyactuable i11- dependently of said mechanical actuating device todisengage` the loop byfirst pulling'and subsequently releasing thelooped thread. 1

- Joni B.- GURY, JR.

